INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page.

In keeping with the Government of Saint Lucia’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and cognisant of the socio-economic contribution and vulnerability of its coastal and marine environments, the Government has embarked on a process of enhancing both the conservation and sustainability practices within Saint Lucia’s maritime space using proceeds from a blue bond. The Government envisages that issuance proceeds would make available finances for conservation, restoration, and maintenance of natural resources, such as coral reefs, seagrass areas and related aquatic marine habitats and biodiversity, while investing in measures to improve the sustainability of the fishing industry.

This desire is consistent with the 2018 Saint Lucia Sectoral Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan for the Fisheries Sector (Fisheries SASAP) (2018-2028)[i] and the Saint Lucia National Policy for the Fisheries Sector (2020-2030) which supports the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan. The Fisheries SASAP highlights the degradation of coral reefs, important fish nurseries and breeding habitats, and changes in the migratory behaviour of species because of warmer and more acidic waters. The number of fishing days has also reduced due to more frequent extreme weather events. The Government wishes to mitigate such risk and finance investments and capacity building activities (technical, institutional, and regulatory) required for strengthening the sustainability of Saint Lucia’s fisheries and fishery-dependent businesses, and the security of fishery-dependent livelihoods under a changing climate.

The Government of Saint Lucia views its efforts to promote conversation and sustainability as complementary. The expansion and better management of marine protected areas could result in reduced degradation of coral reefs, increased aquatic biodiversity and the rebuilding of reef fish species stocks, as well as generally contributing to marine ecosystem services.

A more resilient and better managed marine space dovetails well with the fact that some 60 percent of the fish species caught (in volume and value) by the Saint Lucian fishing industry are so called highly migratory species (e.g., tuna, wahoo, dolphinfish, and billfishes). In addition, lobster and conch, which together represent between 8 and 10 percent of Saint Lucia’s fishers catches by volume, and 10 to 15 percent by value, have a lifecycle in which the larvae are transported with the currents over large distances throughout the Caribbean. The regional fisheries bodies (CRFM and WECAFC) have established fisheries management measures for these transboundary stocks and migratory species. Consequently, the implementation of enhanced conservation measures by Saint Lucia will very likely have a greater positive effect on the sustainability of the fisheries resources and the livelihoods of fishers, than large marine protected areas.

The fishing industry is an important source of employment and income for the people of Saint Lucia, as some 3 percent of the labour force is directly employed in marine fishing (3,364 people in 2019), and hundreds of people are deriving some income from fisheries value chain activities. In 2022,[1] the annual off-vessel value of fish, conch and lobster was around USD 10 million (26 million EC$), achieved with a production of 1440 metrics tonnes. In the period 2013-2019, the average annual production of healthy fish and fisheries products was above 1600 tonnes, contributing to domestic food security and nutrition objectives.

96 percent of Saint Lucia’s combined land area and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surface area is marine waters. Its coastline is 158 km and there are 16 fish landing sites, which are home to 593 small-scale fishing vessels.[ii] The Department of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Natural Resources and Co-operatives is responsible for fisheries management and development in Saint Lucia. The Department supports the fishing industry to produce in a sustainable manner and helps Saint Lucia to achieve the SDGs, particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water). The Department also collaborates with other government entities, fisherfolk organisations, and fishing industry stakeholders at national and regional levels throughout the Caribbean. As a member on behalf of the Government in the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) and Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC), the Department discusses and agrees on harmonised fisheries management measures for shared fisheries resources, participates in the organisation of joint capacity building events, and is guided by several conventions and agreements, including the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy and its protocols on Small Scale Fisheries and, on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction

The overarching policy objective is reviewing the existing fishing industry, selection of key performance indicators (KPIs), and development of a roadmap to attain the selected KPI(s), that is consistent with the Government of Saint Lucia’s desire to increase sustainability and value-added in the sector.

The Government of Saint Lucia is committed towards SDGs 2, 6 and 14, and considers the implementation of the Fisheries SASAP and the Saint Lucia National Policy for the Fisheries Sector 2020-2030 as essential for the long-term sustainable management of the fishing industry. The Fisheries SASAP contains 10 concept notes for investment of USD 7 – 10 million in the fishing industry and aquaculture development. The policy contains the vision and guidance for sustainable fisheries in Saint Lucia and its full implementation would require several millions of USD to reduce current financial and human resource constraints in the Department of Fisheries.

This consultancy aims to obtain baseline statistics on the fishing industry to enable the estimation of investment impacts of fishing industry projects that should contribute to its sustainable performance, management, and development. To measure the marine management outcomes of a potential debt-for-nature swap arrangement, it will be essential to have baseline information about the status of the fishing industry, marine management areas/marine protected areas, the Department of Fisheries, fish trade, fisheries/seafood sustainability and climate change resilience.

For impact measurement KPIs will need to be identified that they can be used to monitor and evaluate the progress made towards economic, technical, ecological, social, institutional, trade/value chain, seafood sustainability and climate change impacts.

Blue bonds and debt-for-nature swaps for marine areas involve decisions and outcomes that may go against the economic interests of the fishing industry in Saint Lucia in the short term, as fishing and income earning opportunities may be restricted. It is therefore important to have baseline data that could be used to:

1. Compare the costs and benefits of these blue finance instruments with established and already available fisheries/natural resource management methods and metrics.
2. Develop, introduce, and invest in fisheries innovations (vessels, equipment, processing, and infrastructure), and
3. Develop a financial compensation scheme for the fishing industry (as needed).

DELIBERABLES AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Output/Reporting Requirements/Deliverables:

• Professional with a postgraduate degree (MSc or PhD) in science, environmental policy, engineering, development economics, environmental economics, environmental technology, natural sciences or any related qualification.
• 10 years of experience in policy development and project implementation related to the Fishing Industry and KPIs development
• Familiarity with the policy and legislation in the field of environment, fishing industry, and fisheries sector in Saint Lucia is desirable.
• Experience in the development and implementation of fishing industry indicators and methodologies is desirable.

Date to close is Korean Standard Time (KST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Application, Cover Letter, and CV must be sent in English. A consortium, or a firm may not be engaged for the individual consultant assignment.

The following documents have been provided to the consultant and should be reviewed to inform the deliverables:

1. Ehler, Charles, and Fanny Douvere. Marine Spatial Planning: a step-by-step approach toward ecosystem-based management. iIntergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and Man and the Biosphere Programme. IOC Manual and Guides no. 53, iCaM Dossier no. 6. Paris: UNESCO. (2009) (English). Available at: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000186559
2. FAO. (1995). Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. Rome, FAO. 41 p. Available at: https://www.fao.org/3/v9878e/v9878e.pdf
3. FAO. (2021). Improving the capacity of the Fisheries Sector in Saint Lucia to enhance resilience to Climate Change. GCF Readiness project document. Available at : https://www.greenclimate.fund/document/improving-capacity-fisheries-sector-saint-lucia-enhance-resilience-climate-change
4. Gardner, L. (2009). Management Plan for the Pointe Sable Environmental Protection Area, 2009-2014. Government of Saint Lucia. Available at: https://rris.biopama.org/sites/default/files/2021-03/Pointe%20Sable%20Environmental%20Protection%20Area%20Management%20Plan%202009-2014_0.pdf
5. Government of Saint Lucia (2014). Fifth National Biodiversity Report (5NR) for Saint Lucia. Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology. Available at: https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/lc/lc-nr-05-en.pdf
6. Government of Saint Lucia (2004). Coastal Zone Management in Saint Lucia: Policy, Guidelines and Selected Projects. Available at: http://dms.caribbeanclimate.bz/M-Files/openfile.aspx?objtype=0&docid=6564
7. Government of Saint Lucia. (2001). Agreement to manage the Soufriere marine management area. Soufriere Marine Management Association. Available at : https://www.smma.org.lc/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/SMMA-Agreement-final.pdf
8. Haffey, D. (2009) A Systems Plan for Protected Areas in Saint Lucia. https://rris.biopama.org/sites/default/files/2021-03/St.%20Lucia%20Protected%20Areas%20System%20Plan%20%282009%29.pdf
9. Van Anrooy, R., Carvalho, N., Kitts, A., Mukherjee, R., Van Eijs, S. Japp, D., Ndao, S. (2021). Review of the techno-economic performance of the main global fishing fleets. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper No. 654. Rome, FAO. 2021. Available at: https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cb4900en
10. Walker, L. (2012) Towards the Development of a Coastal Zone Management Strategy and Action Plan for Saint Lucia. https://www.un.org/depts/los/nippon/unnff_programme_home/fellows_pages/fellows_papers/walker_0506_stlucia.pdf
11. Washington, S.; Ababouch, L. (2011). Private standards and certification in fisheries and aquaculture: current practice and emerging issues. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper. No. 553. Rome, FAO. 181p. https://www.fao.org/3/i1948e/i1948e.pdf
12. 2016 feasibility study for wastewater treatment plant and outfall – Castries;
13. World Bank Water Policy Update for Saint Lucia – Part 1: Strategic Water Sector Review (in particular, paragraphs 44 to 66, and in the conclusions and recommendations section, paragraph 65.d);
14. World Bank Water Policy Update for Saint Lucia – Part 2: Policy Proposal and Implementation Strategy (in particular, Strategy Goal 5)
15. United Nations Wastewater Treatment indicator guidance.